Giants win 13-inning thriller on Christian Arroyo’s hit

ST. LOUIS — Even as a strapping lad still 10 days short of his 22nd birthday, Christian Arroyo did not want to put his legs through another 17-inning grind. How nice that he could do something about it with a piece of lumber in his hands.

The Giants and Cardinals played 12 scoreless innings Saturday night, with a 42-minute rain delay tossed in, before Arroyo finished a 12-pitch at-bat by slamming a two-run, bases-loaded double to left-center with one out in the 13th. Nick Hundley added a sacrifice fly and the Giants won 3-1 to ensure a series victory.

“What a great at-bat the young kid had,” manager Bruce Bochy said after the Giants won for the seventh time in eight games. “He really spoiled some good pitches and looked very determined. It’s similar to the at-bat he had in New York. This one was longer and much needed.”

Bochy was referring to Arroyo’s three-run double in the ninth to beat the Mets on May 10. Arroyo had fallen into a 5-for-32 slump with no extra-base hits since that double at Citi Field when he took his big swing Saturday.

Much needed?

Christian Arroyo celebrates at second base after his double broke a 0-0 tied in the 13th inning.

Christian Arroyo celebrates at second base after his double broke a 0-0 tied in the 13th inning.

Photo: Jeff Roberson, Associated Press

Photo: Jeff Roberson, Associated Press

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Christian Arroyo celebrates at second base after his double broke a 0-0 tied in the 13th inning.

Christian Arroyo celebrates at second base after his double broke a 0-0 tied in the 13th inning.

Photo: Jeff Roberson, Associated Press

Giants win 13-inning thriller on Christian Arroyo’s hit

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The Giants and Cards played one of those epic, pitching-rich marathons that feel especially great to win and, even more so, awful to lose.

Arroyo assured the former after Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford and Eduardo Nuñez singled with one out in the 13th to load the bases and match the Giants’ hit output over the first 12 innings.

Arroyo stepped in against left-hander Kevin Siegrist. It was a long time before he stepped out. Arroyo fouled six two-strike pitches, including three 93 mph fastballs after building the count full, before hitting his two-run double.

“He did a great job for a lefty throwing to the inside part of the plate with authority, 93, 94,” Arroyo said. “I just went into battle mode and tried to stay as free as I could and not get locked up.”

Hundley’s pinch sacrifice fly gave the Giants a 3-0 lead. Mark Melancon allowed a run but collected his second save in two nights.

A surging Jeff Samardzija pitched eight innings and allowed five hits in his fourth consecutive start without a walk, the longest streak of his career. He has struck out 40 of the 133 hitters he has faced since he last issued one, to the Padres’ Jabari Blash, on April 28.

Even so, Samardzija was the second-best starter on the field. St. Louis’ Carlos Martinez allowed two singles, by Joe Panik and Nuñez, in his first career nine-inning game. And he helped Samardzija stay sharp by blowing through the Giants’ lineup.

“I kind of got my five minutes in between and went back out there,” Samardzija said. “There wasn’t really any disturbance in my routine. He had amazing stuff tonight.”

Although Samardzija, Derek Law and Hunter Strickland had a lot to do with 12 shutout innings, all would have to admit that three terrific defensive plays saved the Giants.

Denard Span crashed into the center-field wall after catching Aledmys Diaz’s drive to end the 10th, only this time bracing himself with his hands and not banging his shoulder again.

When Matt Carpenter rifled a double off the left-field wall to start the ninth against Josh Osich, the ball ricocheted so far back toward the infield that Carpenter went for three. But Nuñez retrieved the ball after a long chase and threw a two-hopper to Arroyo for the out.

The Cardinals’ first inning began with Crawford making a sliding catch to rob Dexter Fowler. Crawford ran as far into right-center as any shortstop would. Span and right fielder Mac Williamson were in awe.

“After the inning, Mac said to me, ‘How the heck did he get to that before us?’” Span said. “I said, ‘I do not know.’”